green backed heron - front | watercolour

The green-backed (striated) heron is a quiet, patient hunter of Africa’s waterways. It moves slowly along the river’s edge or waits on a low perch, freezing completely as it scans for the slightest ripple below. When a fish, frog, or insect comes close, it strikes with lightning speed, using its sharp bill like a spear. These clever little herons are also known for using tools — dropping insects or bits of vegetation onto the water to lure fish within reach, one of the simplest forms of bait-fishing in the bird world. After catching its prey, the heron carefully turns it in its bill and swallows it whole. With deliberate movements and beautiful green-and-slate plumage, it hunts with stealth and precision, perfectly adapted to the still backwaters and reeds shown in this artwork.